Custom Development
When a plugin or an app can't do what you need, custom development can. We build custom sites, themes, apps, and integrations, on Shopify, on WordPress, or from scratch, and scope them so you're never paying for custom work you don't need.
When custom is worth it (and when it isn't)
Custom development is the right call when off-the-shelf forces you to compromise on something that matters, or when you're paying for a stack of plugins that only half-solve the problem.
It's the wrong call when a well-chosen existing tool does the job. We'll tell you which situation you're in, even when the answer means less work for us.
What we build
Custom Shopify themes and apps
Storefronts that go beyond an off-the-shelf theme, and small custom apps built for your store when the app store doesn't have what you need.
Custom WordPress development
Custom themes, plugins, and features, built around exactly what your site needs to do.
Custom and static sites
Lean, fast sites built without a CMS when a CMS would be overkill. Cheap to host, quick to load, and hard to break. (This site is one: hand-built HTML with Tailwind CSS.)
Integrations
Getting your site talking to the tools you already use (inventory, shipping, accounting, your CRM), usually with the right app set up properly, and custom code when no app fits.
How we scope it
Custom work goes sideways when it's vague. We start by pinning down exactly what the thing needs to do, break it into clear pieces, and build in stages you can see and test, so you're never handed a black box at the end.
Throughout, you're working directly with Javier Centeno.
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Pin down exactly what it needs to do
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Break it into clear pieces
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Build in stages you can see and test
Javier was an invaluable asset as he was quick to learn our CMS as well as the intricicies of our brand, voice and how to utilize our UI components. He frequently came up with ideas to improve processes and enhance component UI, and we could always rely on Javier to hit the ground running when unexpected work came our way.
Custom development questions people ask
Can you build a custom Shopify app or theme?
Yes. We build custom Shopify themes, and small custom apps made for one store's needs, for the things the theme store and app store can't cover. It's a core part of our Shopify development work.
Can you integrate my site with our ERP, CRM, or other tools?
Yes. For most platforms there's already a well-supported app or plugin that connects to your system, so we find the right one and configure it properly. When nothing fits, we can build a custom connection through the system's API.
Can you build an internal dashboard or custom tool?
Yes, when a project calls for one. We've built a good number of custom dashboards and internal tools over the years, pulling data from different systems into one place a team can use every day. It's a smaller part of our work today, but still well within what we do.
How do you scope and price custom work?
We start by defining exactly what it needs to do, then break it into clear stages you can review and test. Pricing follows the scope, with no vague black-box quotes. You'll always know what's being built and why.
Do you only build on Shopify and WordPress?
No. Shopify and WordPress cover most projects, but when neither fits, we build custom: static sites, standalone tools, and integrations that connect the systems you already use. We'll recommend the simplest approach that does the job, which sometimes means no CMS at all.
Need something off-the-shelf can't do?
Walk us through what you need, and we'll tell you whether custom is worth it. It starts with a 30-minute call.
or email hello@solymardigital.com